Logging tractor



Jan- 5, 1954 R. G. LE TOURNEAU LOGGING TRACTOR Fled June 1, 1950 4 sheexs-sheet'l Jan. 5, 1954 R. G, LE TOURNEAU LOGGING TRACTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l, 1950 JNVENToR. G. LTOUR/{EAU Z AQ. yada-4,4 gl.

AGENT Jann- 5, 1954 R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,665,110

LOGGING TRACTOR Filed June l, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JNVENTOR. R G. LETOURNEAU Patented Jan. 5, 1954 #Dit Le T91. .ration f' .Californi Application June 1, 1950,'SerlialNm 165,491

l l y{Ehi-s invention relatesfto tractors employedin thaulinglogsontof the woods. or along haulroads The vprimary vobject of .this :invention is to Ypro- .ivie 'a high speed .rubber tired .tractor which VAincludes a specialstructu-re andfrnount to permit a loggingr arch .group (including 'a winch) ;tobe .mounted .directlyfto .thetractor case vand to be 1powered fby .the .-tractoi.

Another object is to fprovide .a .logging arch .group which comprises .a longitudinally jadjlltable roller` :structure support and a fvertically Hagiljustalble rolle-r.strnctu1e;to provide .for seleotive positioning .nf :the fairleatls and Lroller to snit varied .operating conditions.

:A further object Lis to .provide for v'irisftallation .f-cf .a .heavy lduty electric .Winch closelyadjacent the rollerstructure Vsupport to `permitthe Winch @cable lto -..be :selectively reeled "in uor pnt Vringer power even when the .tractorsis moving.

Het another vobject is to.. provide .a l tractor for 7'log-ging ,Work `which includes `a bulldozer blarie group at the frontbfgtheftractonlan adjustable loggingarchigroupfat therear offthetraoto nd .anpverhead -crashibar connected'to and bracing both groups and also providing asaetygneasure lfer the -traetor operator @ther ohieetsfandadvantaees ;\vi1l` .appear from an-.examination ofltheollowing speeinoationeng lfthe accompanying drawings vin which: K, F.ier. 1 :represents a side elevatipll V.Qf my {.provedlogging tractor -in Whichthe right side i.Wheels and other .parts ,have been omitted gto fmoreclearlyrshow struotnralrdetails. n

"-Eig. 2 represents'a plan viewfof l:my.ilpgsille tractor withthe rightrear Craishfbar boltpleie and bracket fomittedto Y show .other ,details.

.. ,1, .-whieh-.zattfchptoand:supportifronteross plate 8, and a rear cross beam troonnewsland freinforces Athe VK.cases 2 .-.anfd :3 fat their rearward rends. The `mainframe :is fsupportedfformovementsalong theground `by large pneumatica:tired amelare:forvvardlv;.extendinsztriangnlar.plates Wheels It which arerotatably supDQlted on drive .axles not shown) projecting vtllrough hubs .Irl including a .Weled .-on'brake back up plate ,1.2 .andiabrake I3.

A5 From suitable :mounting blocks (not shown) flocate'dilon thezframe, anengine I4 is supported vforwardly `on the tractor .and .between eases .2 .and 3. The engine l is `o'lirectltr .connected to a ywheel in housing I5 and an in-line generator `l0 Int. A flange I7 attaches generator ,it `directly to i transverse wall a5, .and the .generator shaft I8 Aprojects y:on through V'the `opening `I9 ,formed by Walls f3 and 5 into a unitary transmission 29. This rtrar1srnis-sion.is 'of the constant Ineh 4type .as shown in lmy .eo-.pending .application `Serial No. 735,423.99 ledMarch 1'3, `19.47, now PatentNo. Y$553,376, and includesA external clutchesV 2 I. From transmission .2t .an .outputshaft .shown partially `at .22 .includes a bevel vgear `-pinion 4and drives Ja bevel ringgear, cross shaft, steering clutches and naldrivefgears within oases32 and13 ,which .ultimatelygsupply :poWertO-the wheels in a manner 4.show-n gin detail Vin my Copending applioation Serial No. 727,804, led February 11, 1.947now fPatent fNo. ;2-,63 0-,1638, anol .also ein my copending fapplicationserialjNo. 37,121, filed ,June 4, 1949.

lThe f substance `Vof i. the Ainstant invention resides v*mainly infthe .logging 4arch group, y indicated :gell- .erailly :at .1.00, :suDpQrted from the Vmain frame I f andatthe rear .portion 4,of .the trator. :Final ltlrivecases 2 .and :x3 each `include longitudinally sDaced-.-bo1t b1ocl s Ill I to yvhicha roller structure supportmount indicated generallvat .|92 and showniinrdetail inl'fig. 4) is removably attached '35 byapsorevvs :as .indicated atll. The mount yitselfLis made 11p oftwospaoed apart plates IM, including mounting holes let, connected atene ...end-11o ,la lbumper Jtland. connected intermediate ftheirllds to crosspbeam Il. rIvvo transverse .140 :winch mountinsabiooksfiz andrltaaresupported from Lerossoeam I lll. ,Horizontalrails I I0 `are ,.supnorteo by andioverlay `cross rbeam ,IJ .and .bumper .-tli. :Rarallel Llor-aces llll ,are directly fheneath-'rals :II ..and lare .welded iso-bumper .L06

'145 at one .end and include boit holes il 2 at their .9 herendfr attaching to .pads 113. supported ff m .f1al'.Qr9S sil&eam 1.9. 1 Each. rail I I t includes a hty of longitudinalialiened tapped:holes eeive.,tapered head v@anserevvs ,I.I;5-.for .see ring a vertical roller structure `support 1I I6 to yrails il Ii 4:at Lselettive locations V Support H36 rillcluies spaed-.uprights yl lita. anda ylateral .cross yvhiph include .f a plurality of vertically Y.aligned tapped holes H for reception of capscrews I|9 to secure a roller structure |25 in selective vertical locations. Roller structure |25 is made up of a top plate i2| and bottom plate |23 including cut-away portions |22 and spaced side pieces |24 which reinforce the top and bottom plates and also retain bolt |25 which acts as a shaft for roller |25 which is journalled thereon. Top and bottom plates |2| and |25 as well as side plates |24 are all attached to transverse mounting plates |21 which contain sockets |25 to receive capscrews I i9 which threadedly engage aligned holes I|8 to secure roller structure |26 on its support H5. Spaced base plates |29 include tapered sockets |35 to accommodate tapered head capscrews II5 in threaded engagement with the selected holes Elfi. The rearward end or U- shaped top and bottom plates |2| and |23 include tapped holes |5| to receive threaded bearing plugs |52 which have a machined extension |53 which projects into fairlead |55 and supports the airlead for rotary motion by means of bearings |35. That portion of plates i2| and |25 which immediately surrounds holes |3| is split at diametrically opposite points as indicated by slot |55. rl'his arrangement acts as a locking device to retain plugs |32 in place since the threads of holes ISI bind the threads of plugs A phantom cut-away View |2511 shows the position of roller structure |28 after a forward and upward adjustment of support I|5 and roller structure |26.

In examining the winch sub-group indicated generally as |55, it will be seen that a large cable drum |5| is adapted to rotate within cable guard frame |52 which surrounds the drum to prevent cable |53 from overriding the vertical walls |54 of drum |5i. This drum is powered from a reduction gear case |55 which is connected to a motor gear box |56 by means of bolt ange |51 and the drum, gear case, and motor gear box winch sub-group are shown partly in schematic in Fig. 3. An output pinion |58 is attached to shaft |5| projecting out of motor gear box |56. Helical pinion |65 is in mesh with a large helical reduction gear |52 which is keyed to shaft |63. This shaft is journalled at opposite sides of gear box |55 as at |54 and |65, and it projects thru wall |55a of gear box |55 into the hollow center space |66 of drum |5|. rIhis drum is of simple construction, being composed of Vertical walls |54 spaced apart by a cylindrical shell |61 which is itself reinforced by a circular plate |68 which includes a bolt circle |69 by which it is attached to drive ange |18 on shaft |53. Flange |10 includes a corresponding bolt circle by which it attaches to and drives plate |68 and consequently drum |5|. The winch sub-group |58 is attached and supported by means of three capscrews |1|, two of which pass thru drilled holes |12 in bolt block |13 attached to gear case |55 and bolt block |14 spaced therefrom by a Welded on triangular support |15. Bolts |1| threadedly engage tapped holes |16 in mounting block |08 on cross beam |01 and mounting block E11 rigid with plate |15 which overlays and is attached to the main case of the tractor'. The third capscrew |1| is inserted thru drilled hole of mounting pad |65 from the underside thereof and threadedly engages a tapped hole |85 in bottom corner of gear case |55, This three p oint support provides a rigid stable mounting for the winch sub-group |50 at a location between the roller structure support IIS and the tractor cab 25.

A fuel tank structure 25 rests on and extends between iinal drive cases 2 and 3 and provides part of the support for cab 25. Additional support is obtained from a vertical panel 21 which is part of a cockpit structure 28 which the cab 25 completes an enclosure for.

A bulldozer blade group indicated generally at 5) is associated with the front end of the tractor. The blade structure 5| is composed of a transversely extending moldboard 52 with a blade 53 at its lower front end and longitudinally extending push beams 54 attached to the moldboard at their forward ends; sheave housings 55 and 56 including sheaves 55a and 55a journalled therein as at 51 are spaced transversely cn the back side of moldboard 52. Push beams 54 include a halfsocket 55 welded to their rearmost end. A removable soclret block 5| cooperates with half-socket 65 when the latter surrounds ball joint 62 to provide a universal connection between blade structure 5ft and push beam mounts 63. The complete mount G3 includes a generally T-shaped mounting arm 64 which is inserted for pivotal movement in blocks 55 welded at the bottom of nal drive cases 2 and The outer end of arm 64 includes the mentioned ball joint 52, and adjacent the ball joint is equipped with bracket 66 wherein an adjustment rod 61 is pivoted as at 68. Rod 51 is threaded at its upper end 69 and is maintained in a rigid but adjustable position by adjustment nuts i5, which are threaded thereto on opposite sides of bracket 1|. It will be observed from this construction that push beams 54 and consequently bulldozer blade structure 5| are maintained in a rigid but transversely tiltable relation to the main frame The following mechanism is used to adjustably suspend the moldboard 52 in a vertical plane at the forward end of the tractor. Two upstanding posts include a bottom brace 8| and bolt plate 82 to permit removable attachment to cross plate 8 by means of bolts 82a. A cross beam 83 is welded to each post 56 at an intermediate position to impart rigidity to the H-shaped suspension frame referred to generally as 84. A reversible electric winch 85 is supported from the back side of right post by means of a vertical plate 86 which is welded to upper and lower horizontal strips 81 which are in turn welded to post 80 t0 provide a rigid support for winch 55. A cable guard 88 surrounds the winch drum (not shown) on which a cable S5 is spooled. Cable 89 includes lead 850. which passes from winch 85 up and over sheave 90a of sheave housing 90 and down as lead 8519 around sheave 55a of housing 55 attached to the inner side of moldboard 52 and back up as lead 89e to a second sheave Sb of housing 95. From this point it is directed down as lead 89d and under and around a pair of spaced direction changing sheaves in housing 9| and 92 welded to post 8U and crossbeam 83 and thence up and over sheave 83a of housing A93 and down and about sheave 56a of housing .5619.5 lead 85e and as lead 891 back up to' the outside of housing 93 to cable anchor 94. Winch, 85 operating'cable 89 will raise moldboard 52 iat-a reduced speed but with a distributed load and increased power due to the previously described cable rigging.

Frame 84 at the front of the tractor and frame ||6 at the rear are jointly braced by a pair of overhead crash bars |8| which areV removably .Tand even `raise off the groundlinfsome eases. l ,it will be seen that the optimum position forV dragging'logs depends on severalfactorsginclud accanto Pattached Eto 'the f-upstanding fpcsts capscrews Willi which secures fc'rash bar bracket ist Alto the top vof post -8ii. At their :rear cra'sh lbars @lili i-nclude bolt vplate 5F84 `welded the-reto. This 'plate Hill Aincludes 'a plurality -.of 'florrgitudinally :t

aligned holes H35 are fspacedfto correspond Lto the'spacing'ofitapped'holes -'lMo-fira lfifliland 4"thru which cap'screws i llm-ay engageibracket Lidl of mount yI i6. Crash lbars W84! areseonnectedl-by cr-oss `member 'litt fto increase the .rigidity fcf dilre 1.. @now completed fram-e encompassing all of ythe tool frames on the 'tractor and 'afl'soprovidinga 'sturdy protective 'ff-raming Vfor the operator *and the machine to protect both 'from ftrees,

and-other hazards likely `to A'be encountered in e.

logging operations.

In operation, roller "structure Ui2!) 4is adjusted vertically for .several purposes. .'It essential thatit vbe high enough to lift the frontend .of

v -purpose varies with the diameter `of the Alogs. It vhas been found thatit .is .easier `-to drag a .load of logs as this height is increased.-abovethebare minimum to get the front ,endof the logs off the iground. However if this height vis toofgreatand the load is of sufficient weight, 4the forcesJi-n play .-Wll cause the front wheels to lose their y.traction :SO

ing the diameter of the logs, the weight of 'the total load, and 4'the ftraction required, which is in turn *dependant of thegcondition of thegground,

Ji. e., soft, firm, mushy. .-Another operation@which .requires theroller in the lowestpossiblegpo'sition,

is when the tractor is stationary and the winch is used as a yarder In this operation the nearest possible straight line pull between the winch and the logs is desirable. The longitudinal adjustment of roller structure support H6 is generally for the same purposes as above mentioned and is additive in its effect. For instance as support H6 is moved further to the rear, the moment arm tending to tip the tractor about its rear wheels increases, but it must necessarily be rearward to lift the front end of the logs olf the ground when the tractor is used for arch logging. However when the tractor is used for bob-tailing which consists of merely dragging the logs along the ground it is not necessary to lift the front of the logs up and better traction can be obtained when support H6 is in a forward position. The same is true in the operation known as pan-skidding which is basically the same as bob-tailing but wherein a metal pan is placed under the front end of the logs to prevent their digging into the ground. Also on down grade pulls, the support H6 is used in its forward position.

It will be recognized from the above specification that one of the main features of this invention is that the operator is provided with a tractor mounted logging arch which is adjustable to suit varied operating conditions.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of this invention, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I v.the llogsoff the ground and .the yheight L-for this .20

Cil

laimas'snew and usefulfand desire to secure :by Letters .Patent is:

-1. :Alogging tractor'comprising:a-main iframe, `drive means .for supporting -said iframe, :an .fengine on .the tractor for .supplying power to :said drive .means,: a :mount removably .fastened sto.` said iframe fatit'he rrear of said traetor andcarried by `.said iframe, .Ia .roller support structure attached to and carried fby .said :.mount, a roller support fcarriedlby said 1 structure, vsaid Vroller Vsupport including 1a -horizontal .roller 1and :fairleads posi- 'tioned A'one y.at each end .o'f the roller, :a .winch .supported ffrom the 'tractor A.and located forward of lthe `roller support structure, and a .cable Lfrom said =wiinch passing :over .said .roller .and l.between .said k'fairleads ifor attachment to a Aload :beyond l'the lrear `end fof the tractor, fsaid roller .support structure Ibeing adjustable f-longitudinally :of said :tractor on said lmount, and .said roller .support :being adjustable .verticallyonfsaid support structure.

i12. .'A logging tractorzcomprising amain frame; .drive means `supporting .said frame; :an engine :Onsaid :tractor 'for supplying power to said :drive means; .a pairrof spaced longitudinally vextending horizontalrails carried by said tractor adjacent l:the .rear rend thereof; .a sub-frame .including lan inverted .U shapedmember I.and longitudinally rextending .base :plates .mounted=on:said trails and .adjustableethereon longitudinally fofsaid |tractor; a roller -support mounted iupon said 'sub-iframe .-.and vertically .adjustable .thereon :said roller .-support ,comprising a t-pair of .vertically ,spaced transversely .extending rails, vla Stop plate fand .fa .bottom plate Vextending respectively :rearwardly from said transversely extending rails, and side plates attached to said rails and said top and bottom plates; a roller extending horizontally in said roller support; fairleads extending substantially vertically between said top and bottom plates and positioned one at each end of said roller; and a winch mounted on said tractor forwardly of said roller support adapted to wind a cable reeved over said roller and rearwardly between said fairleads.

3. A logging tractor comprising a main frame; drive means supporting said frame; an engine on said tractor for supplying power to said drive means; a pair of spaced longitudinally extending horizontal rails carried by said tractor adjacent the rear end thereof; a sub-frame including an inverted U shaped member and longitudinallyA extending base plates mounted on said rails and adjustable thereon longitudinally of said tractor; a roller support mounted upon said sub-frame and vertically adjustable thereon; said roller support comprising a pair of vertically spaced transversely extending rails, a top plate and a bottom plate extending respectively rearwardly from said transversely extending rails, and side plates attached to said rails and said top and bottom plates; a roller extending horizontally between said side plates in said roller support; fairleads extending substantially vertically between said top and bottom plates and positioned one at each end of said roller; and a winch mounted on said tractor forwardly of said roller support adapted to wind a cable reeved over said roller and rearwardly between said fairleads.

4. A logging tractor comprising a main frame; drive means supporting said frame; an engine on said tractor for supplying power to said drive means; a pair of spaced longitudinally extending horizontal rails carried by said tractor adjacent the rear end thereof; a sub-frame including an inverted U shaped member and longitudinally extending base plates mounted on said rails and adjustable thereon longitudinally of said tractor;

a roller support mounted upon said sub-frame and vertically adjustable thereon; said roller support comprising a pair of vertically spaced transversely extending rails, a top plate and a bottom plate extending respectively rearwardly and downwardly from said transversely extending rails, and side plates attached to said rails and said top and bottom plates; a roller extending horizontally in said roller support; fairleads between said top and bottom plates extending at an angle to the vertical in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tractor, the upper ends of said fair-leads being pitched rearwardly of the lower ends thereof, and positioned one at each end of said roller; and a winch mounted on said tractor forwardly of said roller support adapted to Wind a cable reeved over said roller and rearwardly between said fairleads.

5. A logging tractor comprising a main frame; drive means supporting said frame; an engine on said tractor for supplying power to said drive means; a pair of spaced longitudinally extending horizontal rails carried by said tractor adjacent the rear end thereof; a sub-frame including an inverted U shaped member and longitudinally extending base plates mounted on said rails and adjustable thereon longitudinally of said tractor; a roller support mounted upon said sub-frame and vertically adjustable thereon; said roller support comprising a pair of vertically spaced transversely extending rails, a top plate and a bottom plate extending respectively rearwardly and downwardly from said transversely extending rails, and side plates attached to said rails and said top and bottom plates; a roller extending horizontally between said side plates in said roller support; fairleads extending between said top and bottom plates at an angle to the vertical in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tractor, the upper ends of said fairleads being pitched rearwardly of the lower ends thereof, and positioned one at each end of said roller; and a winch mounted on said tractor forwardly of said roller support adapted to wind a cable reeved over said roller and rearwardly between said fairleads.

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,438,394 Packer Dec. 12, 1922 1,874,007 Heaton Aug. 30, 1932 1,916,732 Le Tourneau July 14, 1933 1,987,688 Lamb Jan. l5, 1935 2,081,939 Le Tourneau June 1, 1937 2,156,183 King Apr. 25, 1939 2,182,781 Andersen et al. Dec. l2, 1939 2,230,704 Sorensen Feb. 4, 1941 2,305,630 McNeil Dec. 22, 1942 2,441,132 Blakey May 11, 1948 2,492,914 Barden Dec. 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,067 Great Britain of 1898 109,676 Australia Jan. 24, 1940 

